Oil-well packer



Nov. 4 1924.

C.M.HEETER OIL WELL PACKER Filed June 21. 1923 v I Y I I l L I *zz'r 4 L Y E .To all whom. it I Patented Nov. 4, 1924.

UNITED STAT-es 'cn-Antns M. irnnrnn, Q's-BUTLER. PENNSYLVANIA.

OIL-WELL rncxna.

a plies... {med June 21,1923." s m jma m.

Be it known 'thatI, CHARLES a. citizen of [the United statespresiding at Butler, county of Butler, State. of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented a new and useful Im' provement in Oil-WellBackers,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact scription.

The present oil well equipment, and more particularly to a packer adapted to form a tight joint between the casing and thewall of the hole.

At the present time, with certain earth formations or sands of different characters,

considerable difficultyis experienced in producinga tightjoint-around thecasing as required. If a small area only of the'wall' is engaged, th -earth at the point of engagementtends to break away, and the use of packings having large packing areas has not proven feasible with apparatus heretofore available.

By the present invention, there is rovided an improved form of packing adapted to contact with a much greater wall area than has heretofore been possible, thereby enabling a tight joint to be easily produced.

In the accompanying drawings, there are shown, for purposes of illustration only, certain embodiments of the present invention, it being understood that the drawings do not define the limits of my invention, as changes may obviously be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of my broader claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of an oil well packer in position within a well, the packing being expanded into engagement with the well wall;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1, the packing sleeve, however, not bein expanded;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectiona view through the joint provided between the packing carrying tube and the casing;

Fig. 4, is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, on the line IVIV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of one side of the lower end of the packer illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, illustrating a slightly modified embodiment of the invention.

In carrying out the present invention, there is preferably provided a packing carr \'iii g tu'be' l which niayibe of any desired" length, and which is adapted to carrya-rub g bei-ffjacking sleeve 3. In. accordance with this invention. have found that a; packing sleeve substantially tl feet in length may, be I advantageously used, although it "will ap 1 f parent that this length may vary' in accord- I ,7 in ance with the requirements] invention relates broadly to Around the packing car ry'ing tube "2, ad i jacent each cndof therubber sleeve 3,"1s"a' 1 fabricring 4. The seringsi'are preferably formed by the useof comparatively narrow The lower fabric ring 4 abuser its lower strips of burlap wound around the tube sp'i V rally. 'asclcarly shown'in Figl 'l. These fabric "rings 'forinfabutrnent's for the opposite ends of th sleeve and effectively prevent the same from "slipping out of' po's'itionf be threaded into position'on the lower end" of the tube 2. The upper edge of the top ring 4 in like manner abuts against the lower end of a ring 6, slidably mounted on the upper end of the tube 2 and held thereon against accidental removal by a collar 7. The tube 2, together with the associated parts may be secured to the lower end of the casing 8 by threading the bottom sec tion of the casing onto the ring 6. On lowering the casing into position, the upper end of the ring 6 will abut against the lower end of the collar 7 and will carry the weight of the packer without exerting any compressing action on the packing sleeve 3. As soon, however, as the support 5 engages-the desired point 9 within the well, the further downward movement of the tube 2is checked and thereafter lowering of the casing will cause the ring 6 to bear against the upper ring 4 and to force the same downwardly. This downward movement will initially tend to place the packing sleeve under-compression, whereby it is expanded outwardly throughout the major portion of its length, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, into engagement with the wall of the well. The continued downwardly movement will cause the fabric rings 4 to become compressed. This compressing of the rings will cause the angle of the spirals to decrease, whereby the strips will extend more nearly circumferentially be apparent that a similar action occurs at each end of the tube 2.

In some instances it is desirable to provide the support for the lower end of the tube 2 with a tapered exterior, as clearly indicated in Fig. 6. 'Such a construction 7 In Fig. 4 there is illustrated one form of 7 joint which may advantageouslybe used between adjacent sections of the casing. This particular construction, however, may be varied as desired, or as found necessary. It comprises threading one end of each section 8 interiorly and the other end exteriorly and providing a coupling 10 to unite the adjacent ends of two casing sections.

The advantages of the present invention arise from the provision of a packing carrying tube having fabric rings thereon adjacent opposite ends of a packing sleeve, whereby expansion of the packing rings will effectively hold the packing sleeve in position. Still further advantages of the invention arises from the provision of pack ing rings constructed of strips of suitable 1. In a well packer, a packing carrying tube, spaced fabric rings thereon, and a rub-- oer sleeve intermediate said rings, substantially as described 2. In a well packer, a packing carrying tube, spaced rings thereon formed of a 1 plurality of spirally Wound layers of Inaterial, and a rubber sleeve intermediatesaid rings, substantially as described. i

3. In a well packer, a packingcarrying;

tube, spaced fabric rings thereon, a rubber sleeve intermediate said'rings, and a means, 7

for effecting a relatively longitudinal movement between said rings to expand said sleeve. substantially asdescribed.

4. In "a well packerya rubber packing sleeve, means carrying said sleeve, and means co-operati-ngwithopposite ends of said packing sleeve and comprising superimposed layers of spirally wound material for holding the ends of the packing sleeve in position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. I

CHARLES M. HEETER. 

